Nov. 3, 2020 at 11 a.m. lecture-masterclass
Nov. 5, 2020 at 4 p.m. lecture
Nov. 9, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. 'Burn the Box' concert and Q&A

Bassoonist and composer Clifton Joseph Guidry, III will join Virginia Tech in November for a residency that will include two lectures and a solo recital.

This multi-day residency will center around Blackness, radical self love, mental health awareness, and how music connects these movements. Everyone, regardless of experience or degree focus, is welcomed and encouraged to attend the lectures and concert. 

Read more: Composer Clifton Joseph Guidry, III to explore musical connections with Blackness, compassion, and self-love

The lecture-masterclass on Nov. 3 will focus on the innate potential of the bassoon for 21st century composition, including an overview of many contemporary techniques. These will be explored from the perspective of the player as well as of the notater.

The second lecture on Nov. 5 will cover Guidry’s process, and his ongoing work of decolonizing the bassoon within their artistic practice. While the bassoon is known for its role as an orchestral instrument, central to Guidry’s artistic practice is an exploration of the bassoon beyond Eurocentric confines.

While the masterclass is designed for bassoonists and composers, it is encouraged that anyone who is interested attend. Non-musicians and musicians of all backgrounds should feel welcome to join each of these talks. 

The program on Nov. 9, entitled "Burn the Box," features a pre-recorded streamed recital, followed by a live Q&A with Guidry. The program will feature three of their own compositions: "2:19," "How to Breathe While Dying," and the world premiere of a new work. Also included are compositions by Jessie Cox, Olivia Shortt, and Edgar Guzman. All of these works are influenced and informed by the central tenets of Guidry’s practice: radical self love, compassion, laughter, and the importance of amplifying Black and Indigenous art-makers and noise-makers.

Please note - the last work on this recital contains mature language.

Guidry's album "Darkness is a Myth" was released August 2020.

This event is presented by the Virginia Tech School of Performing Arts, with co-sponsorship from Office of Inclusion and Diversity, Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology (ICAT), and the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.